Olive Latham by Ethel Voynich. Short summary

5 seconds

The Russian fiancé of the Englishwoman Olivia, the revolutionary Damarov, dies in prison. The girl becomes an associate and friend of his party comrade. The young people decide to be together.

1 minute

Olivia, the eldest daughter of the banker Latham, works in London as a nurse of mercy. The girl made that choice herself. Her father in his youth also tried to go his own way. Her parents do not know that their daughter is engaged to the Russian socialist Vladimir Damarov.

Miss Latham receives news of her fiancé’s serious condition and goes to St. Petersburg. She is met by Dr. Karol Slavinsky, a revolutionary and longtime friend of Volodya. They take Damarov, who is ill with tuberculosis, to Lesnoye, the estate of his aunt. The French painter Duchamp, who has been a guest of Prince Repnin, visits them. He praises Volodya’s sculptures and youthful drawings.

Olivia and Vladimir move to St. Petersburg. After a while he is arrested. Damarov dies in prison. The girl returns to England and fades by the day. She is plagued by insomnia and hallucinations. Slavinsky offers to take care of sick refugees. The work helps her come to her senses. Olivia helps Karol to produce a newspaper. The young people grow closer and decide to walk the path of struggle together.